Ketchikan
June
31, 38
Dear
Bro & Wife:
Well
I rec’d your letter and I’ve just taking time while in Ketchikan for a few days
to sure answer your letter before I go back out to the trolling grounds.
We
have had a fair run of Salmon but not like last year, but they all say that the
fish are late this year and that they all expect a good run here in July of
Kings the Cohoe Salmon are just beginning to come in but the prices are just
4(cent sign) a lb so one has to catch quiete a few a day to pay but I got up to
9 & 9 ½ 4 a lb lots last summer for them so making the price will gradually
raise we are getting 10 (cent sign) a lb and they are paying 14 & 15 (cent
sign) alb for King Salmon here in town so I think I’ll pack up so I can run
them in and maybe I can make a little more expect King Salmon to go up to 20 or
22 before fall I got up to 21 4 a lb last sept & oct so if I can get enough
can make it pay
I
had one $50 day and owe $33 day and then the use were from a couple of dollars
to 15820 but of course one uses about 1.50 in gas and then we loose some had a
gear once in a while so it runs the expense acct up too. We use spoons and they
run from $3 a doz to 9 & $10 a doz of course we make good spoons out of
brass & Bronze but hooks & swinels cost too the linen leaden we use
cost $4 a lb and the stainless stool hives we use cost 36 to $38 for the 4 we
fish with 4 lines & 4 poles two out the side of the boat and two out over
the bow of the boat the 2 bow lines carey from 30 to 40 lbs if lead each and
then out sidelines carry from 15 to 25 lbs if lead each and of course we hit
bottom and loose some had once in a while I have lost at bass 150 lbs of had
this year and that costs too, so we have our problems too.
We
pull our lines in wich bronze gurdies or rules that run from the shaft drives
by the fly wheel on the engine.
The
“Jewel” that’s the name of my boat is 40 ½ ft long I can carry 7 or 8 tons of
iah fish in the hold. My cabin I have the engine and 2 bunks and stove &
all my cabnets are unclosed and I have a 100 gal water tak up in the bow. It is
one of the best looking and one of the best built boats up here even if I do
say so all the old timers all say you sure have a fine boat.
Well
if the fish came in in good numbers I get my share I have been among the high
boats where I have been trolling so with a little more experience I can fish
with the best of them. Some made as high as 5-6 or even 7 thousand last year
but I don’t think the King Salmon will run as heaby as last year
The
King Salmon weigh up to 50-60 and 75 lbs most of them run from 14 to 30 they
are called Mildcure and the small Kings run from 6 to 14 – cohoes run from 3 up
to 9 & 10 lbs they are much smaller Salmon. Dog Salmon & Humpbacks and
Sockeyes we don’t catch on trolling gear; as they only pay 10 (cent sign) for
Humpback salmon they call pin Oalwon in camp and Dog samon they pay 12 (cent
sign) for they catch those in traps and the sockey also.
King
Salmon is sold fresh & mild cured & Kippered they are not caured &
the Cohoes a few are canned & some are sold fresh frozen & some are
mild cured. That is smoked lightly.
I
have had meat several times this summer it sure is good up here. There are
thousands out among the thousands of Islands I have a new Winchester model 70
in a 30.06 sure shoots swell I shoe a seal right in the head they pay $2 bounty
on the hair seal & $1 on eagles which there are thousands too and $20
bounty on wolves & coyotes.
I
would like to go up the Stilkime or Unik river before I go south this fall and
get a moose and take some deer meat down but I don’t know if I can spare the
time.
Well
that sure is too bad about Uncle Louie & Gene and also Mabel’s folks too.
I
have been well but it sure is hard work on a large boat alone most of the boats
have 2 men on them and they run from 3 in the morning till 11 at night and I
have did that many a day myself so it sure is not an easy swap I get up in the
morning build a fire and put on the coffee pot and start the engine and run out
to where I am going to fish and then after I have the hier out I grab some
thing quick to eat as I watch the lines most of the time.
Well
tell Shirley helo and you and Mabel take care of yourselves and maybe we can
work some thing out up here Pearl wants to meet me in Seattle this fall and if
we can possible can we will try and see you folks this fall if possible your
loving bro Irvin
(side
of letter): PS Now write, as I like to hear from you and I’ll write and give
you al the news from imphere.
NOTE: SORRY IT HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO GET BACK TO THESE LETTERS. MORE WILL BE COMING SOON.
